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I am so confused - getting different answers from medical group

Posted , 5 users are following.

tina42933
tina42933

My right arm starting hurting in September. In October, I went to the clinic and they said I had tendonitis and to take advil. Again I went to my primary, no exam, sent me to physical therapy for tendonitis and tight neck. Started pt in November, within two weeks, my left arm and shoulder went. Did not improve and still my doctor increased physical therapy. In February, they increased my exercises to about 17 and heavier weights. That night my back went out. Went to urgent care, only could ask one question, was misdiagnosed. Then, had back xrays, dr. said nothing. Sent me for mri of my neck and said bulging disc causing arm pain. Sent to neck dr. He said, no and examined me and said I had two frozen shoulders and the back was a compression fracture. Saw shoulder dr. Gave two cortisione shots, was sick for four days, never got better. Did some acupuncture and went to the pa of the shoulder dr today who said if I don't have another cortisone shot, then I'll have to have surgery, no other way. I had asked a month ago about using kenalog and he said that would be fine, today he said can't use it. So I have no choice. I go to pt for my back tomorrow and asked for a script for my shoulders too. I know people that have frozen shoulders and they neither had cortisone shots or surgery but it takes awhile. Now, I'm really confused. I'm doing things with my shoulders, it's my back keeping me from doing a lot. I really discouraged and it's been 8 months since my arm started hurting. Thanks to the errors in diagnosing, I just have stressed over this too long. Anyone help me here. I'm 65 so not young.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • karen25221
    karen25221 tina42933

    Posted

    if you are in the UK they dont seem to be able to do inter departmental communication. 2 years i got passed around rotator cuff tendonitis/ disease ? i questio mark disease ithen got told frozen shoulder just had surgery

    2013 after years of neck problems and them getting worse had MRI scan showed degerative discs bulging but where the discs had degenetated they were irritating the nerves which was causing pins and needles x

    • tina42933
      tina42933 karen25221

      Posted

      Karen:

      ​I'm in the United States and doctors here don't like Medicare patients and you can only ask one question per visit and they don't go over your records just guess.

      ​I'm sorry you went through all that. I don't understand why they do this.

      ​My doctor misread every xray and mri. Makes me really depressed because I can't do what I need to.

      ​Hopefully, the new physical therapist can help. Don't understand why the first didn't know what it was.

  • frozen_stiff
    frozen_stiff tina42933

    Posted

    Tina, As I have said before primary physicians know little about  musculoskeletal condtions, or exercis or nutrition. They do mostly training in conditions that  they will never treat unless they are in the outback and no specialist is available. You also seem to have a bad choice of PT or you have been treated by a PT aide. Comparing a tendonitis to a frozen shoulder is beyond the pale.Many countries now have patients going to PT as initial providers. Wherver you are make sure the PT you get is qualified to treat you.  If he or she are not conversant with the words Cyriax, Kaltenborn, Maitland and nags and snags and what a capsular pattern is find someone who does.
    • tina42933
      tina42933 frozen_stiff

      Posted

      I go to a new pt tomorrow. I will  make sure this one knows what they are doing. The first one had her 19 student assistant telling me what to do. Maybe five minutes with the pt. This time I won't let that happen.

      ​ I have jotted down those words to take with me. Thank you so much.

  • bobbysgirl
    bobbysgirl tina42933

    Posted

    Wow, I thought I was going through it! Did they let you see the MRI 'pictures'? I have two frozen shoulders (at different stages) and a much older problem with my neck (long stories I won't go in to) But the NHS consultant I saw about my neck showed my the MRI and explained what the problem was - three discs out of alignment - not much they can do as surgery may make it worse. But I now understand the problem and can cope with it. To me that is half the battle.

    The shoulders are another story. GP sent me for Physio (NHS 6 month wait) and advised me to go private if I could afford it! We have a Physio in the village and I went to see her. She was BRILLIANT! She did help an awful lot and confirmed that the pins and needles I get in my right hand is from my neck and not, as I had been told carpel tunnel.

    It is good advice to ask certain questions to find out if your 'expert' knows what they are doing, and ask to see the scans/Xray's for a better understanding.

    I really hope you get some joy out of your 'professionals'.

    • tina42933
      tina42933 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      I had no idea that so many people were going through this. I thank you for telling me what happened to you. This site gives me some hope and what to ask the new pt today.

      ​I won't go back to the physician's assistant who doesn't listen and pushing things on me that would make me so sick again. Cortisone shots in both arms, never told me the side effects and not listening that I am sensitive to medications and I suffered for four days. He looked at e like it can't be. He needs to get more training and most need to learn how to listen to their patients. Thank you so much. I'm glad I found this site. 

    • bobbysgirl
      bobbysgirl tina42933

      Posted

      Unfortunately most never get that training! It seems to be - a pill for every ill and one size fits all.rolleyes Most have no confidence in the body's ability to heal itself - given half a chance and the right food.
    • tina42933
      tina42933 bobbysgirl

      Posted

      I agree with you. Pills and add fear to the package like the pa did to me yesterday.  went to the physical therapist today. He asked lots of questions and examed me. The first pt never did that. He told me that my compression fracture is healed or I wouldn't be able to move like I do. He said that I have very tight muscles and he is going to help loosen them up and gave me three exercises to do at home. He said that one point is a fibromyalgia flare. He checked my shoulders and said that I had good range of motion not like the pa said. he said I may never get 100% but at my age, nothing is 100% anymore. He said to walk more, play the keyboard which I have avoided and do the exercises. I am a hyper person and he asked me if the pain is worse when I am stressed. I said yes so i need to work on that. If the doctors and pa's would stop scaring and misdiagnosing, that would help.
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure tina42933

    Posted

    HI Tina,

    had diagnosis for frozen shoulder & rotator cuff issues. The ortho RX therapy which didn't help. After a ultra sound the scar tissue build up in my shoulder caused further mobility restrictions. The dr referred me for a Xiaflex injection which is a enzime which breaks up and disintegrates the built up scar tissue. It took a few weeks and more therapy. After 8 mo my shoulder is almost back to normal mobility.

     

    • tina42933
      tina42933 hope4cure

      Posted

      I feel so lost with all the doctors and physical therapists I'm going to or gone to. Now, the pt says I don't have a compression fracture in my back but I have very tight muscles. He says he might work on my shoulders on Thursday but I am hurting and like I told him, from my shoulders up to my head, it throbs so hard and I feel pressure. I'm kind of giving up on medical people giving me any help. I had a cortisone shot in both shoulder in April, did not help but I had bad reaction and was really sick for four days. When I saw the pa for the shoulder doctor, he was nasty and said more shots or surgery and walked out in a huff. Didn't even read or listen to what I said about the shot. trying to get someone new, but after two days, they don't seem to want to give me to anyone but him so i won't go back. I'll try to find someone somewhere. Took 8 months for them to take xrays and mri's. Our medical system is so poor here unless you have good insurance.
    • tina42933
      tina42933

      Posted

      Well, this physical therapist is doing the same things that made me worse the last time so I will keep looking for answers and a doctor that actually  can help if that is possible.
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